Yelena Isinbayeva , the golden girl of Russian sport , has sought to clarify her controversial comments about gay rights and her apparent criticism of fellow athletes for highlighting the issue at the world championships in Moscow .

Isinbayeva reclaimed the women 's pole vault title in front of her adoring public on Tuesday , then two days later defended her country 's anti-gay propaganda law after receiving her medal .

`` If we allow to promote and do all this stuff on the street , we are very afraid about our nation because we consider ourselves like normal , standard people , '' Isinbayeva said in English at a press conference .

`` We just live boys with woman , women with boys .

`` Everything must be fine . It comes from history . We never had any problems , these problems in Russia , and we do n't want to have any in the future . ''

She criticized two Swedish athletes who defied the anti-gay law by sporting what could be seen as `` propaganda '' under the new regulations .

High jumper Emma Green Tregaro and sprinter Mao Hjelmer wore rainbow-colored fingernails in their events in support of the gay rights movement .

Green Tregaro posted a picture on her Instagram account captioned : `` Nails painted in rainbow sign #pride #moscow2013 . ''

`` It 's unrespectful to our country , '' Isinbayeva told reporters . `` It 's unrespectful to our citizens because we are Russians .

`` Maybe we are different from European people and other people from different lands . We have our home and everyone has to respect -LRB- it -RRB- . When we arrive to different countries , we try to follow their rules . ''

However , on Friday Isinbayeva released a statement via athletics ' ruling body claiming that she had been `` misunderstood . ''

`` English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood when I spoke yesterday , '' said the 31-year-old , who is an ambassador for the International Olympic Committee and will be mayor of the athletes ' village at the Winter Games in the Russian city of Sochi next year .

CNN iReport : What it 's like to be gay in Russia

`` What I wanted to say was that people should respect the laws of other countries particularly when they are guests .

`` But let me make it clear I respect the views of my fellow athletes and let me state in the strongest terms that I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality -LRB- which is against the Olympic charter -RRB- . ''

Russia 's recently implemented law , which bars `` propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors , '' has led to calls to boycott the Winter Olympics in Sochi . Russia hosts another massive sporting event in 2018 , soccer 's World Cup .

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke about the issue last week , saying that `` nobody 's more offended than me '' by the anti-gay legislation `` you 've been seeing in Russia , '' and some bars around the world have also stopped serving Russian vodka in protest of Russia 's stance .

U.S. runner Nick Symmonds was quoted in the New York Times criticizing Isinbayeva 's comments .

`` It blows my mind that such a young , well-traveled , well-educated woman would be so behind the times , '' said Symmonds , who spoke out against the law after winning a silver medal in Tuesday 's 800 meters event .

He told the BBC Thursday that he had wanted to compete wearing a rainbow sticker , but was afraid of being arrested .

In his blog for Runner 's World prior to the world championships , Symmonds said he disagreed `` with the laws that Russia has put in place . ''

Thrilling finish

On the track , Trinidad and Tobago 's Jehue Gordon edged American Michael Tinsley in Thursday 's 400-meter hurdle final in a finish reminiscent of the women 's 400m three days earlier .

In the latter race , Britain 's Christine Ohuruogu chased down Botswana 's Amantle Montsho and won by four-thousandth of a second .

Gordon 's margin of victory was a little greater but not by much -- 47.69 seconds compared to 49.70 .

Felix Sanchez , the 36-year-old from the Dominican Republic who was seeking his third title , came fifth .

Kenya 's Ezekiel Kemboi claimed his third consecutive world title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase -- adding to his two Olympic gold medals -- with a time of eight minutes , 6.01 seconds .

Had there been 10 more meters , he might have been caught by younger countryman Conseslus Kipruto but Kipruto had to settle for the silver .

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NEW : Russia 's Yelena Isinbayeva issues statement trying to clarify controversial comments

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Pole vault champion says she respects the opinions of her fellow athletes

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Isinbayeva had criticized two Swedes for highlighting gay rights issues

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American 800-meter runner Nick Symmonds expresses surprise at her initial comments